Newcastle Untied midfielder Jonjo Shelvey has been ruled out of the upcoming clash with Liverpool due to a knee injury, it has been confirmed.
Magpies boss Rafael Benitez has revealed that the 26-year-old is unavailable on Saturday for the trip to Anfield in the Premier League.
The Newcastle manager explained that the Englishman is still awaiting results from a scan on his knee injury.
“Jonjo Shelvey has a knock to his knee and he will not be available [against Liverpool],” Benitez said in his pre-match press conference, as quoted by the Chronicle.
“We are waiting on the results of the scans. We don’t know how serious it is. He wants to train and play but we have to check.
Newcastle visit Liverpool in a league encounter on Saturday evening and both teams are fighting on opposite fronts this season.
The Magpies are just two points above the relegation places and are looking to move away from the drop zone.
Meanwhile, Jurgen Klopp’s outfit are third in the league standings and vying for a top four finish this season.
Shelvey has been ruled out at the weekend and will be unable to take to the field against his former club Liverpool.
The central midfielder has been a mainstay in Benitez’s side and started six of the last seven league games.
OPINION
Shelvey is a big omission for Newcastle ahead of the difficult fixture against Liverpool and they could have done with his composure in the middle of the park at Anfield. He has started to regain his best form in recent weeks and fans know that he is an integral player for the side when he plays well. Shelvey is a technically gifted player that has a wide range of passing and also six international caps for England under his belt. Newcastle will be praying his knee injury is not too serious as they will need his know-how during their relegation run-in. Benitez could turn to Mikel Merino as a replacement in midfield and the Spaniard could do with recapturing the form he showed when he first moved to St James’ Park in the summer.